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Topic: 4.7 Earthquake Hits Oklahoma (Read 10837 times)

I definitely experienced my first earthquake this morning, 11/5/2011. It was strange as it happened. There was a slight and gentle shake but quite noticeable was groaning sounds of wood coming from the walls of my home. It lasted for not quite 10 seconds. Some people, like myself, initially thought it was a sudden gust of wind. It's been reported as felt in neighboring states. There has been some after shocks. This earthquake may be tied for the second strongest ever in Oklahoma history. The strongest one was 5.5 in 1952.

On November 5, 2011 at 2:12 AM CDT (07:12:45.4 UTC) an earthquake occurred in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. The earthquake occurred about 6 miles northwest of Prague and 5.2 miles southeast of Sparks. The OGS determined a ML magnitude of 4.8 and the USGS currently has it at a magnitude 4.7 (Mb) these two numbers are essentially the same given the errors in calculating magnitude. Both the USGS and the OGS have determined a magnitude 5.2 mbLg for this event. This earthquake occurred very close to where a magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred on February 27, 2010. From the location of the earthquake and the focal mechanism it is most likely that this earthquake occurred on the Wilzetta fault also known as the Seminole uplift. As of 3:30 AM CDT on 11/5/11 the OGS has received a few hundred reports.

We will be updating this page as we get more information so please check back.

It's definitely an attention getter that you won't forget! Whether it's your first or have been through several. Your 'groaning sounds" description reminded me of a trip to the Philippines and the hotel I stayed in. It was a big hotel of cement construction and while I was sitting down in the lobby I heard that 'groaning' noise above me as if something heavy up on the next floor was being moved across the room. At the time I didn't think much about it but soon realized that the cement construction shouldn't make this sound. Found out a little later of a quake that occurred. 1st one for me also, then.

Cool. Must have been a real eye-opener! I am wondering why I did not get an email from the USGS about it. I have a subscription with them and I have been getting them regularly but not for this one. I will have to check my subscription. Glad you didin't suffer any injuries!

I can remember quakes in the San Francisco area that kept building up prior the 1989 Loma Prieta quake (a 7.1 magnitude event) and then a lot of quakes in the 6 and 5 range for months afterwards. It wasn't a pleasant experience for sure - but I survived it with minimal damage to my home in San Jose. What I am suggesting is that, looking back at that quake, we saw an ever increasing number and size of quakes over the years leading up to that event. They build slowly and quietly before they release a larger and more damaging quake. Not to scare anyone in the area, just something to keep in mind and be watchful. Have your emergency supplies ready.

I can remember quakes in the San Francisco area that kept building up prior the 1989 Loma Prieta quake (a 7.1 magnitude event) and then a lot of quakes in the 6 and 5 range for months afterwards. It wasn't a pleasant experience for sure - but I survived it with minimal damage to my home in San Jose. What I am suggesting is that, looking back at that quake, we saw an ever increasing number and size of quakes over the years leading up to that event. They build slowly and quietly before they release a larger and more damaging quake. Not to scare anyone in the area, just something to keep in mind and be watchful. Have your emergency supplies ready.

Felt that one tonight...started off shaking my computer monitor about and sounded a little like a jet. I got up to go into the living room and some stuff fell off cabinets in there. Most definitely the strongest one I've ever felt. Lasted about 45 seconds.

After not feeling any since the first one, a strong aftershock happened here as of 10:53PM, 11/5/11. This time it felt somewhat stronger and came with a rumbling, kinda like thunder in the distance. I thought it registered higher than the original. I was right. It was initially placed at 5.2 but has just been revised to 5.6. It probably lasted around 10 seconds. If it holds, then it will be the strongest earthquake in Oklahoma history. I'm around 40 or 50 miles from the center. Some people living near the center have had things falling off shelves. I'm glad it hasn't gotten that bad at my house.

Interesting how the quake happened shortly after No. 3 OSU barely beat Kansas State in football, 52 to 45 here in Stillwater. It was quite a game down to the final seconds.

I can remember quakes in the San Francisco area that kept building up prior the 1989 Loma Prieta quake (a 7.1 magnitude event) and then a lot of quakes in the 6 and 5 range for months afterwards. It wasn't a pleasant experience for sure - but I survived it with minimal damage to my home in San Jose. What I am suggesting is that, looking back at that quake, we saw an ever increasing number and size of quakes over the years leading up to that event. They build slowly and quietly before they release a larger and more damaging quake. Not to scare anyone in the area, just something to keep in mind and be watchful. Have your emergency supplies ready.

I appreciate the input from an old pro like yourself. I realize I'm in Illinois and these quakes are in OK, but we've been feeling them too. Also the New Madrid fault is a concern here for us. We have a kit together for tornadoes so I assume the same one will work for earthquakes. We just had a Dreamer family meeting here a few minutes ago to discuss what to do in an earthquake because I'm pretty sure our response of looking at each other and saying "what the heck was that?" simultaneous is not the thing to do. lol I think when I get to work Monday I will go over some earthquake preparedness with my employees though just so we are all on the same page.

As I've said many times, I don't like earthquakes! Tornadoes, snow storms, derechos, hurricanes, etc I can prepare for those, I know they are coming, I can get out of their harms way, but if the big one hits while I'm in bed...... well that scares the crap out of me.

Felt that one tonight...started off shaking my computer monitor about and sounded a little like a jet. I got up to go into the living room and some stuff fell off cabinets in there. Most definitely the strongest one I've ever felt. Lasted about 45 seconds.

On KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City during late news they just showed a video clip showing downtown skyscrapers shaking in Tulsa. I'm glad it didn't last as long as 45 seconds at my place. I get some consolation that these quakes aren't centered, so far, under the biggest cities in Oklahoma, and that no fault line runs through the county I live in.

I get some consolation that these quakes aren't centered, so far, under the biggest cities in Oklahoma, and that no fault line runs through the county I live in.

Those can be famous last words. Most faults are unmapped.

Most of the mapped faults and uplifts in Oklahoma are in the center and southern part of the state. The one this happened on was in the center of the state. Here's the best map I could find of the faults:

Felt that one tonight...started off shaking my computer monitor about and sounded a little like a jet. I got up to go into the living room and some stuff fell off cabinets in there. Most definitely the strongest one I've ever felt. Lasted about 45 seconds.

On KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City during late news they just showed a video clip showing downtown skyscrapers shaking in Tulsa. I'm glad it didn't last as long as 45 seconds at my place. I get some consolation that these quakes aren't centered, so far, under the biggest cities in Oklahoma, and that no fault line runs through the county I live in.

Likely from KOTV-6 (that's KWTV's sister station) Williams Tower cams and others. It was pretty intense. About 15 seconds of decent shaking, followed by five seconds of nothing, then 25 seconds or so of the shaking that knocked the stuff off my cabinets. Everyone in the neighborhood was out on their porch pretty quickly.